Letters of David Francis Smith, July 1941- February 1942 - Part 1

No 38.
VX25593

W.O"D.F. Smith

8^th Divisional Signals

A.I.F.

Malaya.

11.7.41

My darling Rene,
Just a few lines to let you know
that I'm O.K & still in the land of the living,
hope this finds you & all at home in the best
of health & that you are enjoying yourself.
Things are still pretty well the same here
 with us, nothing very startling happening. We

arrived back from our 4 days at the sea-side
yesterday,  we had a great holiday, a very nice
break to get away from here for a while, all we
did was eat, sleep & swim, needless to say I did
most of my swimming early in the morning &
late in the evening, the sun in these parts
isn't very kind to us red-headed blokes. Slept 
on the beach the first nights, only to wake
up about 230 am, to find a decent storm brewing,
so had to pick up our bedding etc, & make
a bolt for the truck. Quite a few of the boys
have a fair bit of skin trouble, so I think that
was mainly why we had a spell down at
the water, & it seemed to be quite helpful too.

.2.
Today I satisfied a longing of mine, think
I told you that they had a lovely sports ground
in at the club here, we played the Volunteer
Forces hockey there today, & its just like a
billiard table, we were beaten 4 to nil, but
it was a very good game, & by the way its
the first that I have had since I left home,
maybe I'll feel a bit stiff tomorrow.
Heard the winner of the National on 

Thursday, it was certainly a turn-up.
Received 3 globes by the mail today,

will be able to put in an hour or so, after

I finish this.
I missed out on a letter from you on
Tuesday, maybe I'll get a couple on Saturday.
Noel told me that he received a 10/-

Canteen Order from the Q'cliff Council also the address 
so maybe mine is on the way, believe young Pip
got one in the same mail.
Had a snap of yours truly taken in my
room the other day, it is fairly decent, that 
photo of you & I came out very well, I'm getting a
postcard enlargement of it, will send it later on.
Things seem to be a lot brighter over the
other side, the saying here is "We'll be home for Xmas"
Gee Love I wish that it would work out like that

.3.
Noel met Plonk Warren down the line the
other day. I think that you would remember him,
he was at the Q'cliff for a fair while.
How is Bill getting along these days, am
still waiting on a letter from him.
What sort of a time did you knock out at
that Patriotic Ball, was it as good as every one
thought it would be, what was the frock like
this time, another black.
So you think that our old place is looking
so well, do you reckon we will ever get back
in to it again.
Give Norm Sunderland my regards, he would
be able to give you a good description of this part
of the globe.
Tell Ma that I will answer her letter
over the week-end. Its a pretty tough job trying
to write these days, there's nothing much of interest
here.
Well Sweetheart I can't find any news to 
tell you for the present, maybe when I get a letter
on Saturday I'll be able to write a little more.
Cheerio
With all my Love & Kisses
Frank XXXXXXX

[*J Matthews*]
Regards to all at home.

ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Mrs D. F. Smith.
c/o Mrs H. Watts.
Symonds St
Queenscliff
Victoria Aust.
J Matthews

VX25593. WO" D.F.Smith

8^th Divisional Signals

A.I.F.

Malaya 

.4.
 So you reckon the picture you say of the

scenery over this way was very beautiful, 

glad somebody thinks so, personally I'd prefer the 

beach at the Q'cliff at least it wouldnt smell 

so much.

The adoption club are certainly going to 

be busy sending Xmas parcels to the boys, 

they are doing as very good job.

Pleased you accepted my apology, re 

that dance business, & sorry that I couldnt 

make any suggestions,  couldnt imagine they

would be much good anyway.

We are starting to get a bit of sport

going over here now, have had a run or two

lately.

Well sweetheart I'm afraid that I 

cant find any news for the present, so I'd

better close up. 

'Cheerio'

With all my Love & Kisses

Frank xxxxxxxx

Regards to all at home.

[*J Matthews*]

ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Mrs D.F. Smith

C/o Mrs H. Watts

Symonds St

Queenscliff

Victoria

Australia
[*J Matthews*] 

Back of envelope - see original document

No.43.

V.X.25593.

W.O." D.F.Smith.

8^th Divisional Signals

A.I.F.

Malaya.
My Darling Anne,

Received your most welcome letter

O.K., very pleased to hear that your cold & sore

throat has disappeared, & that you are O.K once

again.
Hope that you are knocking out a fair
time up in town, the break may help you
pick up some of that lost weight, you evidently
had a rough spin if Ma's opinion is correct.
Maybe the worry of this business hasnt got all

to do with it.

Sorry to hear that you are not getting
your letters regularly, mine are O.K again now, after
a bit of a hitch.
Cant imagine that you are having
any fine weather down there this time of the

year, it must be changing a bit, yes worry
is that we see too much of the sun.

I sent that snap I promised, wasn't as
good I thought it would be, appears to be taken
too close, will try it again.  

.3.

one of the other camps today, I didn't go, but
our troops won just about everything.
Am sending the last two copies of our
paper tomorrow, hope your find something to interest

you in them, perhaps you'd better not show any
more of them to Mabel.
You seem impressed with the work of the
two young ladies  behind the counter at the Post
Office, the men won't get a job when they get
back.
What sort of a time are you & Mabel having in

town, manage to do a few shows, & wear out a few
windows, & how did you enjoy your visit to St Moritz,
you didn't say how long you intend staying, should
imagine that you'd make it worth while, hope you
give my regards to Claude, Pearl & not to forget Darkie.
Well Sweetheart I'm afraid I cant find
any news to tell you for the present, so Id better
close up.
''Cheerio"
With all my Love & Kisses.

Frank. xxxxxxxx
Regards to all.

[*C.C. Johnstone

- 3 AUG. 1941*]